Links
Here are some of the sites we recommend you take a look at to learn a little more about those who are trying to make a difference and offer resources and services that can make a huge difference to families in time of suffering and need.
Useful Information
- CCF CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE
CCF is the Child Cancer Foundation and are an organisation set up to support children effected by cancer and their families. We can not thank them enough for their continued support and practical solutions to not only our situation but everyone we have met through this journey. They have many volunteers throughout the country organising events including fund raisers and awareness programmes as well as get together for families and of course the children. It is a wonderful network and does a great part in helping families struggle through the horrible situation caused by childhood cancer.
- Starship Hospital
CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE
Starship is New Zealand's only hospital dedicated to children's health. It is a 7 storey building with imagery, surgery theatres and wards for all types of conditions including an oncology/haematology ward on the 7th level. These are ward's 27B for the inpatients and 27A for the clinic, out-patients. The hospital is full of New Zealand's finest doctors and nurses and all other necessary staff. Without it health for children would be on the adult wards therefore not giving specific care to specific needs. The hospital is 20 years old and is next to the Auckland City hospital in Grafton, Auckland.
- Hopeopathy
CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE
While we were in hospital and for different periods through Claudia's treatment to date we have given her many different remedy's after visiting a very special man who sadly passed away in 2007. But everything he recommended at these different times worked just as he said they would and as a result Claudia while going through her treatment avoided a lot of side effects and the likes. This may seem small but I can tell you avoiding ANY side effect is great. While there is much controversy about the effectiveness of homeopathy, it is a choice that we made after reading and researching as much as we could and in the end it assisted favourably at the times when needed. Always be informed about using any medicine or remedy, whatever type it is.
- NZ BLOOD CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE
When in hospital, Claudia received dozens of bags of blood, platelet, plasma and immuno-globulin while on treatment and without the generosity of NZ'ers giving blood, children like her could miss out. So although today everyone is working hard to meet the financial deadlines there is one thing that doesn't cost us a cent - yet it will add to the need for NZ'ers in giving blood. "A single blood donation contributes to the making of up to 12 products all serving a vital function to help others in need." So what the are ya waiting for?? Just for your info, NZ Blood is desperate for type O Negative so if you know you have this type, get along and help out. Thanks...
- Make A Wish CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE
This is a national non-profit organisation who's mission is "to grant wishes to children who are living with a life-threatening illness." Claudia of course fell well within their criteria and chose to have her room 'made over' in December 2005. A man who participated and finished impressively I might add in the Tauranga Ironman which covered 2km swimming, 90km cycle and a half marathon (21km) did this for charity and of course this was Make A Wish. He was a wonderful guy and Claudia took an instant liking to him and she was impressed with his medal, runner number and other gifts he brought for Claudia to keep. The lady from MAW came around and it was just a lovely time. While we were at Rainbows End the Make-A-Wish people were around at home fitting out Claudia's room with new furniture and it was fantastic. Unfortunately Claudia was amazed and so excited. She didn't come back out of the room apart from toilet stops and food breaks but otherwise stayed in there while reading her books, drawing and so on, just hanging out in her own room. And then her special guest, Scooby Doo came in to visit Claudia quickly and that was so cool. Claudia was so excited. She managed to hug him a few times but each time retreated back behind Lisa but her face was glowing with excitement and so we are so grateful to all who have taken part in all of this for Claudia. She is so excited and Scooby also dropped off a TV for Claudia so after setting up her Playstation and getting some of her Scooby DVD's and games, was set for the rest of the day. In fact even all the Scooby books came out and she was just so thrilled about having Scooby in her house and getting her picture taken with him. So you see, these people work so very hard in making a child's wish come true while in a difficult time in their young lives. We are very thankful of Make-A-Wish and just for your information, Claudia was on the December month for the 2007 Make-A-Wish calendar :)